The Troubles – or the Northern Ireland conflict – was a period of civil and political conflict which began in the late 1960s and is generally accepted as having ended with the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in 1998. There remains no consensus about the causes of the Troubles, its nature, or how it should be remembered. It has been interpreted as an anti-colonial independence struggle, an ethno-political conflict, and a terrorist campaign against democracy. Central to the conflict was the struggle over Northern Ireland’s constitutional status. Unionists and loyalists – who were mostly Protestant – wanted to remain a part of the United Kingdom, whilst nationalists and republicans – who were mainly Catholic – sought a united Ireland. Over 3,600 people were killed during the Troubles, with approximately 50,000 total casualties over the three decades.
It is important to acknowledge that this is both difficult and contested history. Although we have a shared past, we don’t have a shared memory. This exhibition presents a diverse range of opinions and identities but does not seek to achieve consensus or to provide a comprehensive history of the period. Our aim is to explore the essential role of women, individuals and collectives, who operated from grassroots to government levels. It is only possible to capture a selection of women’s stories in this exhibition but we hope that this project will spark your curiosity and inspire you to research your local peace heroines.
Read the heroines’ stories here.